Healing from Sexual Abuse
A Path to Recovery
Are you filled with shame and guilt? Are you tired of not getting the rest you deserve? Are you tired of always feeling not safe when you are in public setting? Do you want the flashbacks to stop?
Sexual abuse can create a world where everything and everyone is NOT SAFE. Trusting others and getting close to people is not something you are comfortable with.
Therapy can support you in your recovery from sexual abuse!
Frequently, we blame ourselves saying “I shouldn't have gotten drunk, I shouldn’t have worn that dress, I shouldn’t have walked over there”. Remember, you didn't ask for this.
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, please know that it is not and was not your fault. Feelings of shame and guilt is common. Always watching your back is a way for you to stay safe.
Remember it is not about “drinking too much,” “trying to have a good time,” or ”getting carried away,” nor is it about the clothes someone was wearing, how they were acting, or what type of relationship they have with the person who abused them.
Violating is a choice, things don’t have to be this way.
Welcome To Our Safe Space!
At JoyFeel Therapy, the profound impact that sexual abuse can have on individuals is difficult and it takes courage to seek support.
Sexual abuse is a form of trauma. It can have profound and lasting effects on a person's mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Survivors of sexual abuse may experience a range of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, Hypervigilance, not feeling safe anywhere you go, always looking over your shoulders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), low self-esteem, feelings of guilt or shame, difficulties in relationships, and physical symptoms such as chronic pain, sleep disturbances, or eating disorders. These symptoms vary, and there isn't one 'typical' way people respond to trauma.
Providing a compassionate and supportive environment where healing can begin is paramount. This is a nonjudgmental space to heal. You are worth it.
Our Approach
Being trained in trauma-informed care and specializing in working with survivors of sexual abuse, I can provide a safe place to heal. I believe in a holistic approach to healing that addresses the emotional, mental, and physical aspects of trauma. Using modalities like EMDR will help you heal in a faster way than regular talk therapy.
What We Offer
● Virtual Therapy: Offering the convenience of accessing professional support from the comfort of your own space, eliminating the need to travel to appointments.
● Trauma Therapy: A healing process that encompasses the integration of the mind, body, and emotions. It is a collaborative journey between the therapist and the individual, with a focus on developing resilience and restoring a sense of wholeness.
● EMDR Therapy: A specialized therapy that is proven effective in processing trauma. To learn more about what to expect in an EMDR session, click here.
Our Commitment
I am committed to providing a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore your feelings like shame and guilt and responsibility. Your healing journey is unique, and I am here to support you every step of the way, safely.
Healing and growth are possible. You are worth it!
Take the First Step
While the healing journey is challenging, you don't have to do it alone. You are believed here. Contact today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step towards reclaiming your life.
Heal from Sexual Abuse with Therapy
Trauma therapy can be incredibly helpful for survivors of sexual abuse in validating their emotions, such as shame and guilt, processing their experiences, managing symptoms, and promoting safety and healing. Working with a therapist can give you a voice and free you from any blockage the abuse may be causing, even if you aren’t mindful of it.
When someone experiences sexual harm, the traumatic event can get "stuck" in the brain so that the past remains present. Therapy can help rewire our brains so that survivors can heal and move forward in their lives.
HOW SEXUAL ABUSE THERAPY CAN HELP
1. Understanding the effects of trauma:
Therapy helps individuals understand how the trauma has impacted their bodies, brains, and emotions. This understanding can be empowering and can reduce feelings of shame or self-blame. The way you are feeling- is not your fault and a trauma-informed therapist can bring this to light for you.
2. Regulating emotions:
Trauma can dysregulate your nervous system. This leads to difficulties in regulating our emotions. Therapy helps individuals learn skills to regulate these emotions, such as mindfulness, breathing techniques, and grounding exercises. This can be in regular day-to-day life or after a triggering event.
3. Processing traumatic memories:
Therapy provides a safe space for individuals to process and make sense of traumatic memories. This process can reduce the emotional intensity and intrusiveness of these memories. It may feel scary but you get to decide how much and when you share with a therapist. Your first sessions with a therapist may be just getting to know this other human! That is ok.
4. Addressing dissociation:
Many trauma survivors experience dissociation, a coping mechanism in which they disconnect from their thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. Trauma therapy helps individuals become more aware of when this happens and how to reconnect to their bodies and experiences.
5. Building a sense of safety:
Trauma can disrupt a person's sense of safety. Trauma therapy helps individuals rebuild this sense of safety, both internally (feeling safe within oneself) and externally (feeling safe in relationships and environments). Research shows how powerful positive relationships can be in healing the brain from trauma.
6. Developing coping strategies:
Therapy teaches individuals healthy coping strategies to manage stress and triggers related to their trauma. These strategies can include changing our thought patterns, setting boundaries, self-care practices, and seeking support from others.
7. Reconnecting with the body:
Trauma can lead to a disconnection from the body. Through breathing practices or body-centered psychotherapy, trauma therapy helps individuals reconnect with their bodies. Along with this, trauma therapists can guide you in improving your relationship with sex.
Trauma Therapy can help you feel whole again. All the different parts of you, are back in sync.
Hope For Healing from Sexual Trauma
Although the effects of trauma are challenging and harmful, there is hope for healing and recovery. Therapy can help you feel less alone when you are working with a compassionate and understanding therapist. At JoyFeel Therapy, I specialize in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR therapy and somatic therapy (nervous system). Providing a nurturing, safe, and predictable space for those who have experienced sexual abuse or assault to heal at their own pace and in a safe and supportive environment.
Healing from sexual abuse is an individual and deeply personal process. Shame and guilt are common feelings when we have experienced sexual abuse. Therapy respects this by allowing survivors to set their boundaries and timelines for recovery. With the support of therapy, it is possible to overcome the impact of trauma, feel at peace, and build a life that feels fulfilling and happy. You can feel alive again!
Please remember:
You are not alone.
You are not alone.
You are not to blame for sexual abuse, assault, or harassment, no matter the circumstances. The shame and guilt can be so strong.
